Means for preventing lubricant saturation of electrical motors



Feb. 25, 1941. E. .1. RUTHMAN MEANS FOR PREVENTING LUBRICANT SATURATION OF ELECTRICAL MOTORS Original Filed May 21, 1936 INVENTOR. EDWARD J RuTHMA/v,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES i -ATENT OFFiCE MEANS F OR, PREVENTING LUBRI- CANT SATURATION OF ELECTRI- CAL MOTORS 81,043. 1938, Serial No. 195,372

2 Claims.

This invention relates toimprovements in motors, and particularly to means for preventing the saturation of electric motor parts.

This application is a division of an applica- 5 tion filed, in the name of Edward J. Ruthman, for- Pumps, Serial No. 81,043, on May 21, 1936.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of an electric motor having bearings which are periodically lubricated, and in s which the lubricant is prevented from saturating the parts of the motor.

Another object of this invention is theprovision of an electric motor, particularly of the vertical type, that is, with the motor shaft axis disposed vertically, in which means are provided for catching excessive bearing lubricants and disposing of said lubricants to prevent same from endangering the motor parts.

A further object of this invention is the provision, particularly in a vertical type of electric motor, of means for draining off the excess bearing lubricants, and thereby preventing damage to the motor parts.

It is also an object of this invention to provide in a circulating pump, where such pump is used to circulate liquid or fluid in which heavy particles of matter are suspended and said particles capable of separating from, the liquid and fluid when quiet, means for freeing the impeller of the pump from the said heavy matter which settles and packs around the impeller when the pump is quiet for a period of time.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawingforming a part thereof, and it is to be understoodthat any modifications may be made in the exact structural details there shown and described, within the scope of the. appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, central section through a self-contained centrifugal pump andmotor, embodying the improvements of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional, elevational view, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a portion of the device as illustrated in Fig. 1, and illustrating a modification in the construction.

Throughout the several views of the drawing, similar reference characters are employed to denote the same or similar parts.

By way of example, the invention. is illustrated Divided and this application March ll,

(o1. sas -134.1)

in connection with an electric motor attached to a centrifugal pump, such as would be used for circulating lubricant, coolant, and the like, on machine tools. As illustrated in the drawing, use is made of a pump housing In having formed interiorly thereof the discharge passage H, which operates in conjunction with the impeller 12. The impeller I2 is keyed or otherwise secured to a shaft Iii, which extends centrally of, and into the pump housing Ill. The pump housing Ill has projecting from one side thereof a sleeve l4, terminating in a flange l5, which may be utilized for mounting the pump housing in operative position, for example, to the side of a fluid containing tank (not shown). mounting flange l5 and sleeve [4 is a passage IS, which is incommunication with the upper and lower sides of the impeller l2, and acts as the supply port for the pump.

The pump housing I0 has secured to it, as by means of the flange ll, a connecting standard or housing It, which is hollow, and has passing therethrough the pump shaft l3. The connecting standard or housing 18 is provided, at its upper end, with a radial flange l9, through which pass suitable bolts or screws for securing there to an electrical motor 20.

The shaft i3 may have connected to it, in any suitable or desirable manner, but preferably integral therewith, the motor shaft 2|, which is provided, at its opposite ends, with reduced portions Hand 23, respectively receiving the inner races of anti-friction bearings 2 and 25. Immediately below the anti-friction bearing 25, the shaft l3 has secured to it a disc 26, acting as a throwout vane, and adapted to intercept mist, spray, or the like, which would rise within the connecting standard or housing l3 due to the agitation of fluid within the pump housing by the impeller I2. The intercepted mist and spray is thrown by means of centrifugal force by the disc 26 through discharge conduit 2'! formed in the-connecting housing flange IS.

The anti-friction bearing 24 has its outer race pressed into a recess 28; formed in the bell or dome shaped cap 29, integral with the upper cap 30 of the motor 20. The cap 29 is provided, centrally thereof and in line with the axis of the motor shaft 2|, with a tapped aperture 3| receiving an oiling or lubricating fixture 32. As seen particularly in Fig. 2, the cap 29 is connected with the housing end 30 by means of two posts 33, which may of course be increased in numbenbut providing comparatively large apertures 34,. whereby the interior Extending through the 15 tures 40 of the motor housing 39.

of the cap 29 communicates with the exterior of the motor.

Secured to the motor shaft 2|, between the bearings 24 and 25, is the rotor 35, between the field coils 3B and 31, which are carried by the motor housing ring 39. The lower end of the motor housing ring 38 has connected with it the lower housing 39, which has formed therethrough a plurality of apertures 4|] for the admission of cooling air to the motor. The lower motor housing 39, in addition, is provided with a duct or port 4|, the outer end of which is tapped, as at 42, for an oiling or lubricating fixture 43. The port or duct 4| communicates with the anti-friction bearing 25 and provides the means whereby this bearing is supplied with lubricant.

The motor shaft 2| has keyed or otherwise secured to it, immediately beneath the anti-friction bearing 24, a fan 44. The fan 44 is provided with a hub 45 from which projects a disc or body portion 46. This disc or body portion 46 is formed in the shape of a dish or saucer, and is so arranged with respect to the bearing 24, as to catch any fluid or liquid, such as lubricating oil, which may drain through the said bearing. Projecting from the lower side of the disc or body 46 are a plurality of fan blades 41, which, when rotating, cause a circulation of air through the motor by drawing or sucking outside air through the motor through the aper- In order to strengthen the fan blades, they may have their lower ends connected by a flange or skirt 48.

The lower wall 49 of the elongated apertures 34, located at the base of the cap 29, is extended inwardly toward the periphery of the fan 44,

where it is upwardly turned, as at 59, to provide a lip. The clearance between the inner edge of the wall or ledge 49 and the periphery of the fan 44, is just enough to permit a running fit and without developing any friction heat due to actual contact.

In operation, lubricating oil is introduced to the bearing 24 through the oiling device 32, and the excess lubricant drains through the bearing and is caught by the dish of the fan 44. Centrifugal force throws this lubricating oil outwardly from the dish, which is caught by the inner wall 5| of the cap 29, and from which it drains to the lower wall of the elongated apertures or ledge 49 and flows from there to the exterior of the motor, where it is disposed of. In the event the motor bearing is lubricated while the motor is stationary, and an excessive amount of lubrication is provided, this lubricating oil will of course be caught by the dish 46, and, upon over-flowing, will be caught by the up turned lip 50 or the ledge 49, and again directed to the exterior of the motor where it will be disposed of.

In Fig. 3, a slightly different form of fan is illustrated, in that the fan blades 41 are free of the lower connecting skirt or ring 48, but is provided with the dish 46. In Fig. 3, there is also illustrated the use of the present invention as applied to a motor shaft which projects beyond the motor housing and cap 29. As shown in Fig. 3, the motor shaft 2| is provided with an extension 52 projecting through an opening provided in the cap and projecting beyond the cap. The opening through the cap is provided with a bushing 53 to prevent foreign matter from entering the motor housing. Secured to the extension shaft 52 is a hand wheel or the like 54 which is utilized for a purpose later to be explained. The shaft extension 52 is provided axially thereof with a small bore or port 55, having secured in its outer end the oiling fixture 56, and the bore 55 having further connection, near its lower end, with a cross port or duct 51, which supplies lubrication to the upper antifriction bearing 24.

The operation of the slightly modified structure of Fig. 3 is identical with that disclosed in Fig. 1, and above described in detail.

From the foregoing, it will now be appreciated, particularly in connection with vertical type motors, that any excessive fluid or lubricating oil introduced into the motor for the upper bearing, will be promptly arrested and prevented from saturating the motor parts. It will also be appreciated that this excess and arrested lubrication is suitably discharged from the motor and disposed of exteriorly thereof. These safeguards are provided for the motor parts, whether the motor is stationary or running at the time that the lubricant is supplied to the bearing.

In addition, the fan 44, while rotating immediately behind the apertures 34, acts as a wall and throw-out to any foreign material that attempts to enter the motor through these apertures. This is especially valuable when a hose is utilized around the machine on which the motor is mounted and which may be turned on the pump for cleaning purposes and the like.

The self contained motor pump of Fig. 1, when modified as illustrated in Fig. 3, is utilized for the circulation of liquids or fluids that have suspended therein heavy particles of matter, such as abrasive fluids, chalky fluids, white wash and similar materials. When the pump is shut down, as for example, over night or over the week-end, these heavy particles settle out of the liquid or fluid and pack around the impeller within the pump housing, and frequently hold the motor from starting the pump when the current is first turned on. In order to start the pump, the operator would grasp the hand wheel 54 and oscillate or rotate the motor pump shaft l3--2l, and thereby loosen the particles around the impeller so that the motor 20 could then rotate the impeller and start a circulation of the liquid or fluid. Sometimes these circulating pumps are employed with fluids or liquids that I are prone to rust, and a shut-down of the pump causes a slight film of rust to form and hold the parts against starting by the motor 20, but a slight pressure on the shaft through the hand wheel 54 breaks the rust hold so that the motor can then operate as usual. In addition, the hand wheel may serve as a medium to indicate to the operator that the motor is running and the pump operating.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a motor housing including upper enclosing walls, a vertical shaft within said housing, a bearing for the shaft supported by the housing upper walls, means for supplying lubricant through the housing to the bearing, a dish shaped receiver upwardly and outwardly flared carried by the shaft below the bearing adapted to receive the lubricant as it passes from the bearing, said dish shaped receiver being enclosed by said housing upper walls against which the lubricant is thrown by centrifugal force upon rotation of the shaft, a ledge integral with the motor housing and projecting inwardly thereof and having its inner edge upturned and closely adjacent the periphery of the dish shaped receiver, said ledge being adapted to receive overflow of lubricant from the dish shaped I receiver and to receive the lubricant as it drains from the housing walls, and ports through the motor housing in line with the ledge through,

which the lubricant flows outwardly.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a motor housing, a vertical shaft within said housing, a bearing for the shaft supported by the housing, means for supplying a lubricant through the housing to the bearing, a combined dish shaped receiver and fan carried by the shaft below the bearing adapted to receive the lubricant as it passes from the bearing and to circulate cooling air through the motor housing, said dish shaped receiver and Ian being enclosed by the walls of the motor housing against which the lubricant is thrown by centrifugal force upon rotation of the shart, a ledge integral with the motor housing and projecting inwardly thereof and having its inner edge upturned and closely adjacent the periphery of the dish shaped receiver and fan, said ledge being adapted to receive overflow of lubricant from the dish shaped receiver and to receive the lubricant as it passes from the housing walls, and ports through the motor housing in line with the ledge through which the lubricant flows outwardly and through which ports the air circulated by the fan is discharged into the atmosphere.

EDWARD J. RU'IHMAN. 

